Breeds of dogs that treat people. Canistherapy: how a dog treats a person. Interaction between owner and dog

(Canis (Latin) - dog, therapeia (Greek) - treatment, recovery) is a method of treatment and rehabilitation with the participation of specially selected and trained dogs and is a type of pet therapy that is actively used in medical and social rehabilitation. Such therapy helps to recover faster, and also copes well with mental disorders.

Most often, dogs and cats are involved in pet therapy. However, fish, guinea pigs, horses and other animals that meet the selection criteria may also be entered. The choice of animal depends on the therapeutic goals and the individual's treatment plan.

What is canistherapy based on?

Such treatment is based on the connection between man and animals, which has existed for many centuries. Interaction with a friendly pet helps manage physical and psychological issues, lowers blood pressure, and improves overall cardiovascular health.

During canistherapy, a large amount of endorphins are released, which have a calming effect, which leads to pain relief, stress reduction and an improvement in overall psychological well-being.

Canistherapy can be used to improve a range of conditions. An important part of therapy is setting a goal, as well as tracking progress, which is necessary for structuring a therapy session.

canistherapy can be done to achieve the following goals:

Improved motor skills
Improving motor ability
Increase self-esteem
Improve verbal communication
Development of social skills
Development of readiness to participate in events
Improve interaction with people and animals

Other benefits of canistherapy:

Makes a person happier, relieving depression and forcing a positive look at the world
Relieves feelings of loneliness and isolation
Relieves boredom or boredom
Relieves feelings of anxiety
Helps children learn empathy and parenting skills

Who will benefit from this therapy?

Canistherapy can be helpful

With chemotherapy
Patients who stay in the hospital for a long time
People with chronic heart failure
Veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder
Children with physical or psychological problems
Stroke victims and people undergoing procedures to restore motor skills
People with mental disorders

The presence of a dog during an unpleasant or painful medical procedure helps to manage anxiety. And people undergoing rehabilitation recover faster if they undergo canistherapy in parallel.

In addition, animals help in the treatment of such diseases:

Emotional and behavioral disorders
Depression
Anxiety
Alcoholism and drug addiction
attachment disorder
Psychological trauma, grief or loss
Alzheimer's disease
Autism
Dementia

What are the risks of canistherapy

The main risks of canistherapy are related to safety and sanitary standards. People who are allergic to animals may experience allergic reaction while interacting with the dog.

Animals that participate in canistherapy programs are tested for behavior and health. The owner of the animal or the person doing the practice must train the dog. After all, animals can also suffer from injury or mistreatment.

In some cases, people become so attached to the animals that they do not want to leave after the session.

How canistherapy works

It is best to carry out canistherapy in the presence of the patient's attending physician.

The canistherapist, who is often the owner of the pet, brings the animal to every appointment and conducts sessions under the guidance of your doctor. In most cases, canistherapists are volunteers. To ensure the safety of both the person receiving treatment and the pet, it is essential to discuss the handling of the dog.

The first step is to choose the right breed. For example, for children with deviant behavior, psychological disorders or having limited opportunities Northern sled dogs are often used - Malamutes, Huskies, Samoyeds, Chinooks, Chukchi and Taimyr sled dogs.

Before the dog and canistherapist can participate in therapy, a number of procedures are performed, which usually include:

Physical examination of the animal, checking for necessary vaccinations
Obedience training to ensure proper control
Training course to train the canistherapist in interaction with patients
Assessment of the nature and behavior of the animal
Sponsor certification

In Ukraine, canistherapy is only developing. This is mainly done by cynologists enthusiasts. However, there are several centers where such therapy is still practiced.

Center for Psychology "I + Family", which is located in the city of Kyiv at the address. Heroes of Stalingrad, 48-A, was one of the first to start using canistherapy. In this center, cynologists and therapists work together to develop sets of exercises for children with different needs.

Kyiv cynological center "Larmon" has been engaged in canisterrapy for more than six years, provides children with the opportunity to work with their specialists. Sessions are held in Kyiv and the region.

Center for psychological assistance "Equilibrium" http://neurocorrection.com.ua/

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Psychosocial contact between a person and a dog significantly improves almost all indicators of both physical and mental health of a person - this is what modern science claims.

Most psychologists believe that the dog has the function of psychological substitution, making up for the lack of communicative connections between people. Simply put, the dog compensates (to a certain extent) for its owner the absence of a loved one and the lack of communication with other people. And it is quite understandable, therefore, that the need to acquire a dog is experienced primarily by those people who subconsciously need a warm, emotionally colored relationship.

Many animal therapists believe that the main reason for the therapeutic effectiveness of canistherapy (from the Latin canis - dog) is the effect that the dog's behavior has on the consciousness and subconscious of a person. And first of all, the unparalleled canine devotion and adoration of the owner plays a role here.

Dogs at the genetic level are inherent in love for a person, and this love absolutely does not depend on the social status of the owner, the characteristics of his character and behavior. Often, dogs forgive their owners for an indifferent or even hostile attitude, and this forgiveness can last indefinitely, until the very end of a difficult dog life ...

Loyalty of dogs is proverbial! Being close to your beloved owner (or mistress) is the main purpose of existence and the highest reward for a faithful dog. The owner may treat the dog in the most disgusting, inhuman way (unfortunately, such an attitude can often be found), but she will never express her displeasure and almost never takes revenge on him! And even more so, she will never leave her master voluntarily, even if he mocks her, beats her and feeds her very badly ...

And this devotion makes the dog treat his beloved owner and members of his family (members of the pack, according to dog concepts). Immensely compassionate to a sick person - a member of his pack, the dog perceives his illness as his own. Helping loved ones to recover for a dog means recovering itself - from pity, the wild pain that she experiences, empathizing with the suffering!

Canistherapy practice

How does the healing process take place, how does a dog, in addition to a purely psychological impact, heal a person?

The dog acts like... a big heating pad. Clinging to the sore spots of the human body, she "pulls out" the pain, improves the general well-being of her "patient". The dog is your home bioreflexologist. The more I hear of cases of healing involving dogs, the more I am amazed at how intuitively intelligent these creatures are. Oriental physicians have been studying reflexogenic areas and points on the human body for many years, as well as ways to influence them. And the dog knows all this ... and knows how by nature! She unmistakably accurately determines which points of the owner need to be affected in order for some of his ailments to pass. And it does pass!

Contact with a dog is especially effective in case of radiculitis, osteochondrosis and other diseases of the peripheral nervous system. Here it is useful to recall that it is dog hair (more precisely, belts knitted from it) that helps very well with the listed diseases.

In the literature on animal therapy, there are recommendations for a fixed time of contact between a dog and a sick person. For example, with the above pathology of the spinal nerves, it is recommended to keep the dog in a sore spot for about 20 minutes. The author is inclined to believe that (as in feline therapy) such recommendations do not have a strict scientific justification. The more time the healing animal has contact with the sick person, the better. Let us recall the stories about polar explorers traveling on dog sleds, who were caught in the open by snowstorms: experienced travelers tore a hole in the snow and, clinging to the draft dogs, spent sometimes even several days in such close contact with them. And nothing harmful to human health happened - on the contrary, the dogs with the warmth of their bodies (I would like to add - and the heat of their hearts) warmed the owner, did not let him freeze. Long-term observations of the author of these lines allow us to conclude that, in most cases, animal healers themselves accurately determine the duration of a treatment session.

The procedures performed in canistherapy are mainly associated with local heating. Living warmth comes from the dog, an “impulse of health”, according to which the work of our organs and systems is aligned. Just keep in mind that nothing can be done against the will of the dog. Forcibly holding her for therapy sessions is stupid, only piss her off and get nervous yourself. It is important that she understands that you want to get help from her, and wants to give you this help. How can you let her know what you want? Talk to her. The dog understands almost everything that we want to convey to it. Probably, this does not happen by identifying the sound of words, but by capturing the "inner message" that is contained in any of our statements.

What diseases are indicated for canistherapy sessions and how they are carried out

Only calm, non-aggressive and obedient dogs with a very stable nervous system should be allowed to work with patients.

Canistherapy is indicated for cardiovascular diseases, diseases respiratory tract, digestive system, urinary system, diseases of the genitals (except for infectious diseases of the genital organs). Dogs take good pictures pain syndrome with various diseases and disorders of the body, wounds and injuries. Headache and hepatic colic, "aches" in the joints and pain in the heart - this is an incomplete list of those ailments in which dogs can effectively help us humans. Canistherapy has proven itself in various inflammatory processes in the body. British researchers have found that dog owners have significantly lower blood cholesterol levels than other people. The same applies to arterial hypertension Dog owners have lower blood pressure readings. Such studies at different times, but with the same result, were carried out by Japanese and German doctors. So, the experiments of the German scientist Dr. M. Fox convincingly proved that stroking dogs on the coat not only effectively reduces arterial pressure, but also lowers excessively high rigidity (tension) of human muscles. A simple stroke of your pet effectively slows down the pulse, normalizes the activity of the digestive system of the body, and contributes to the onset of general relaxation (pleasant relaxation).

Stroking the dog is very helpful in effective prevention. cardiovascular disease. But even if the trouble has already happened and the person has suffered a myocardial infarction or a cerebral stroke, the presence of a dog will help him quickly and easily cope with the consequences of a serious illness.

Even 30 years ago, American doctors from Philadelphia found that the risk of having a second heart attack (which all heart patients are very afraid of) drops sharply if a person constantly communicates with a dog!

Recording and systematizing cases of the effectiveness of contacts with a dog, I came to the conclusion: a dog can cure almost everything!

Canine Diagnostics

As I said earlier, many dogs have unique diagnostic abilities. It has long been known that they can predict a possible loss of consciousness in a person (for example, in the event of an epileptic seizure or heart attack). And not just predict, but take all possible measures to save the adored owner (for example, quickly laying down on the floor so that the patient, in case of a sudden loss of consciousness, could not be seriously injured when falling). But how can dogs determine what is yet to happen? Scientists suggest that in the case of patients with epilepsy, their dogs can reliably detect the onset of an attack about half an hour before the onset of the first symptoms. The dog "finds" the high-frequency "impulse noise" of the cerebral hemispheres, which always precedes an epileptic attack. A sick person who has not yet felt anything (and epileptic attacks are also terrible due to their suddenness), having received the appropriate signal from the four-legged "diagnostician", has time to take all the necessary measures in the remaining time.

In a similar (and incomprehensible) way, dogs anticipate the onset of hyperglycemic shock in diabetes mellitus.

I once read a story about how a dog that had been living in the house for a long time began to behave in an obscure way. Whenever the old mother of the owner tried to approach the open cellar hatch or the burning stove burners, the dog immediately jumped up and blocked her way. And no one could understand what was the matter until it turned out: for several months the old woman had been practically blind, and only the dog knew about it.

Often, dogs save their owners from trouble, because, as a rule, they sense danger much earlier than humans.

Diagnostics brain failure

And there are also such cases that the dog "insolently", although it is constantly driven away, tries to lie down on the owner's pillow. And do not wean the dog, and she tries to press her belly directly against the head of a person, and then lick him in the area of ​​\u200b\u200bthe forehead and scalp. So, this is most likely not hooliganism and not promiscuity of a dog, but a desire to help with brain failure! She tries her best with her warmth to cause blood flow to the host's head in order to restart the process. cerebral circulation. Of course, I speak purely schematically, I explain not in a scientific way, but “on the fingers”. But in my practice, about a dozen cases have been recorded when such behavior of a dog indicated significant problems in the health of the owner.

Diagnosis of diseases of the gastrointestinal tract and genital area

The dog strives to cling to his stomach, puts his muzzle on the stomach area, lies like that for a long time - most likely you have some kind of trouble with gastrointestinal tract. Listen to yourself, have a drink to start Activated carbon, eat bifidus products, exclude from the diet products that cause fermentation, fried, spicy.

If he puts his muzzle on the lower abdomen, do not rush to reproach your pet for "sexual harassment". Perhaps he just smells some problems in your genital area. Again, watch yourself, listen to your physiological manifestations, if something causes anxiety - see a doctor!

Diagnosis of liver diseases

If you are again lying on your side, and the dog crawls under your liver area, it means that he is trying to warm you up in this very place. Most likely this is not without reason, there are some pathologies. Do not drive your "doctor", let him help you with what he can. He tries very hard. And then observe yourself if there are any unpleasant symptoms - bitterness in the mouth in the morning, taste of bile, is everything okay with the stool (is it discolored), and go to the clinic, let them diagnose you with special equipment.

"Canine diagnosis" is usually correct about 70% of the time.

Diagnosis of diseases of the heart and blood vessels

But some things can be recognized by dog ​​behavior at home. I have collected special statistics of dog behavior, according to which it is possible to predict certain ailments in the owner. I just warn you: the specific reactions of the dog are a reason to go to the clinic for a final diagnosis, to listen to yourself, and not a call for self-treatment.

A lot of dogs, especially city dogs, like to wallow with their owners, and they don’t drive them away from themselves. Intuitively, people feel what a positive comes from a dog - that with every cell it seeks to convey to the owner an impulse of health and warmth. So, according to where the dog strives to lie down, we can conclude that something is wrong with you in this particular place. If your furry friend and "house doctor" strives to "lie down" to you all the time from the same side, cling to the same place, it is very likely that not everything is in order in that place.

If, when you lie on your side, the dog tries to lie down to you so that it comes into contact with the area of ​​\u200b\u200bthe heart, you probably have something wrong with your “pump”. The dog lays down in this way to even out your heart rate in its own way (this is especially true for dogs of large breeds).

With varicose veins and thrombophlebitis, dogs usually try to "catch" the owner or hostess and lick the inflamed veins.

However, people probably already know about diseases in their hearts and blood vessels, without “dog diagnostics”.

Dogs are diagnosed with cancer

The unique hypersensitivity of the dog's sense of smell helps people with cancer as well. Based on the hypersensitivity of dogs, the American researcher McCulloch has developed a technique that makes it possible to almost accurately diagnose the presence of early forms of cancerous tumors using the dog's sense of smell.

There is a case when the dog began to show increased attention to the right knee of his mistress. A quick-witted woman went to the doctor, and what - it was in this place that she found malignant tumor! Moreover, this tumor was at a very early stage, when it was still possible to solve the problem surgically. This is how the dog saved his mistress from a serious misfortune.

British researchers conducted an experiment; found that dogs can detect cancer Bladder by ... the smell of urine. The accuracy of such a diagnosis is beyond doubt - it is three times higher than random coincidences. Over the course of seven months, doctors from the Emersham Clinic trained six test dogs of different breeds to smell urine. healthy people(as well as people with other diseases) and the urine of patients with bladder cancer. After completing the training course, the dogs were offered a control test: each of them had to choose from seven urine samples one that belonged to a patient with bladder cancer. This test was repeated by each dog nine times! The results of the tests were encouraging: in almost half of the cases, dogs accurately identified the urine of cancer patients. The probability of random identification was only 14%. The highest accuracy was demonstrated by spaniels, and the lowest by mongrels. Moreover, during the experiment, all dogs identified one of the samples (the urine of a healthy person) as a urine sample from a cancer patient. This behavior of the shaggy "diagnosticians" puzzled the doctors, and at the end of the experiment this man (who was considered healthy) was carefully examined. What was the surprise of the doctors when exactly this person was diagnosed with a kidney tumor!

The excellent sense of smell inherent in dogs helps doctors identify people with breast cancer and lung cancer at an early stage in the development of these terrible ailments. Thus, in the United States, under the auspices of the Pine Street Foundation and with its financial support, a corresponding experiment was carried out. Five dogs of different breeds were trained, as in the experiment described above, to respond to the smells of sick and healthy people. In this case, they were offered samples of the air exhaled by healthy people and patients with breast cancer, as well as lung cancer. After a short training, an experiment was set up with the participation of people, the smell of the air exhaled by which was previously unknown to the trained dogs. In total, dogs were offered breath samples taken from 83 healthy individuals, 55 lung cancer patients, and 31 breast cancer patients. The experiment showed remarkable results - the probability of recognizing cancer patients by dogs reached 90% even after lung cancer patients who had not quit smoking were excluded from the experiment.

Scientists have suggested that dogs react to a specific smell emitted by cancer cells. Representatives of the Pine Street Foundation, commenting on the results of the experiment, said that precise definition chemical composition molecules of the "smell of cancer" will help create electronic analyzers that diagnose the early stages oncological diseases just as effective as dogs do.

Naturally, at home, no one diagnoses cancer with the help of a dog. Dear readers! Don't even think about this way! This is what science does; Do not try to draw conclusions about the state of your health from the behavior of Bobiks and Sharikov, especially when it comes to such serious things as cancer. If your dog even becomes anxious, it will take time before you correctly understand his behavior and figure out what caused it. God be with them, with research! If you have even the slightest suspicion of oncoprocesses, run as fast as you can to specialists so as not to miss precious time! And with a dog - communicate, in any case it will help you as a natural biotherapist.

Dog age

Often people are interested in who is the best therapist - an adult dog or a puppy? The question is legitimate and very important. In fact: you took a dog baby home, wouldn’t it hurt him if you immediately start “loading” him with your own health problems? Or, on the contrary, is his energy so strong that it is he who will help you cope with ailments? Or just let him grow up?

As far as I know, no special studies have been carried out on this issue. However, based on my own experience, I would venture to suggest that adult dogs have a higher healing capacity than puppy puppies. Perhaps this is due to the fact that adults have more body weight, and the bioenergetic potential is certainly higher. As for the psychological impact, here the puppies are beyond any competition! Their endless fun fuss, great love for people, which shines in smart little eyes, endless gullibility ... well, where else can you find living beings so pure in soul?

So my advice to you: if there are functional disorders in the work of some organs or

systems, please contact adult dog. And neuro-psychic problems will help to remove the puppies.

As for whether communication with a sick person will harm the puppy, whether it will be a blow to his energy - I can reassure you: no, it won’t. You won't get much use by giving canistherapy sessions to babies, but the babies won't get hurt. Tested in practice by my many friends!

dog size

The well-known scientist, Doctor of Medical Sciences B.V. Shevrygin believes that for effective dog therapy, the size of the animal is more important than the breed. The larger the dog, the better - the closer in size its organs to ours, which we want to improve. This is especially important when exposed to internal organs.

Interesting fact: what more dog, the higher its cardiac alpha rhythm (one of the indicators of heart contractility). It is used in the treatment of patients with heart failure. Patients daily for 30-40 minutes (or more) hold their hands in the heart of a large dog. Therapeutic efficacy This method of treatment is comparable to the action of pacemakers. Here's a "dog's heart" for you! This is how my friend from Krasnodar, who suffers from paroxysmal tachycardia (severely rapid heartbeat), was treated for his illness. Unfortunately, it was not possible to recover completely - but the attacks of tachycardia themselves passed quickly enough, as soon as he put his hands on the heart area of ​​​​his pet - Newfoundland Jerry.

When it comes to pneumonia, angina pectoris, kidney failure or nephritis (inflammation of the kidneys) - a dog of any size will do. Even small or very small dogs can also heal people perfectly.

"Specialization" of healing dogs

Many people ask me, having decided to get a dog and hoping to get a doctor in addition to a friend, what breed of puppy to choose.

Indeed, does the dog's breed (or outbredness) affect the effectiveness of the therapy? Many experts believe that there is no clearly defined specialization. Although, I must say, some breeds of dogs are more useful for certain ailments.

So, it was noticed that shepherd dogs help with diseases of the musculoskeletal system: German, East European and Central Asian (also known as Alabai).

But the Chinese crested dog is considered a “family doctor” in animal therapy. The presence of this wonderful, friendly creature is good for heart disease and hypertension, allergies and some skin diseases. This dog is able to ... stop seizures bronchial asthma. According to some reports, the presence of a Chinese crested dog in the house even slows down the development of cancer.

For quick-tempered, irritable and unbalanced people, Shir-Pei dogs are best suited. Compared to other animals, dogs have a particularly powerful biofield (cats do not count!), while Shar-Peis are believed to have the most powerful biofield! And this factor has an effective calming effect on a person prone to "gushing emotions."

And the best "pediatricians" are St. Bernards, Newfoundlands, Collies, Giant Schnauzers, Boxers, Terriers and Spaniels.

Labradors perfectly cope with the functions of the "family doctor". However, if one of the readers of this book wants to get a Labrador, you need to remember that he will never make a reliable watchman and guard - the centuries-old history of selection of this breed was aimed at breeding dogs that absolutely trust people and are incredibly friendly. It is probably not without reason that both the Clinton family and the Putin family, when choosing a dog, gave preference to Labrador Retrievers.

If there are small children in the house, the best pediatricians and nannies for them will be St. Bernard, Newfoundland, Collie (Scottish Shepherd), Boxer, Standard Schnauzer, Airedale Terrier and Giant Schnauzer. If the child is mobile, it is best to have a spaniel who also loves to run. It is only necessary to create conditions for their joint games, otherwise the kid and the dog, carried away, can smash everything around!

For life extension

It has been reliably established that the life expectancy of people who regularly contact dogs increases by an average of 15% compared to those of their peers who are deprived of such pleasant communication for some reason. Physiologists say that simply stroking a dog effectively lowers the heart rate, normalizes blood pressure and slows down the pulse. In addition, digestion processes are improved and muscle relaxation (muscle relaxation) occurs.

Many modern psychologists believe that a dog (by nature a very attentive observer) feels the slightest shades in the mood of people much better than other animals. And in the human family, where responsibilities and social roles are basically distributed initially, from the very moment the family was formed, the dog very quickly understands the sometimes rather complex system of relationships. And having already sorted out the hierarchy, the dog establishes a special, invisible, but very strong contact with each member of the human community (it is assumed that dogs perceive the human family as a pack of bipeds). This contact is based on the dog's subconscious perception of individual preferences and characteristics of a person. As a rule, the dog itself is ready to play some specific role in the family (pack): guide, guard, nanny, etc.

To prevent quarrels and conflicts

Dogs help not only sick people - they quickly and reliably relieve the effects of stress in healthy people. Daily communication with a beloved dog is enough for a person to satisfy the need for communication. A dog increases a person's self-esteem, he becomes much calmer, more sociable and less irritable. It has long been noticed that in a house where a dog is kept, there are fewer quarrels and conflicts. And if they do happen, then the presence of the dog contributes to their speedy and painless resolution. This phenomenon, scientists believe, can be explained as follows: the very presence of a dog in the house, worries and troubles, the need to walk the animal every day lead to closer communication between family members. They have common interests, and this inevitably contributes to the strengthening of intra-family ties.

For problems of old age

Dogs effectively reduce the distraction that many patients have. As you know, dogs are distinguished by congenital restlessness (their ancestors - wolves - simply could not afford to sit in one place, wolves were always “feeded by their feet”), and this restlessness has the most amazing effect on patients with motor activity disorders.

The dog needs to be walked at least once or twice a day. And this duty in itself becomes for the owner of the dog excellent remedy from hypodynamia, laziness and obesity. Walking a dog reduces the risk of occurrence and development of cardiovascular diseases (including such serious ones as myocardial infarction and cerebral stroke), stabilizes body weight, saturates our tissues and organs with oxygen (especially if the walk route runs through squares, forest parks and etc.). This was confirmed by a study by doctors from Los Angeles, who found that retired dog owners are much less likely to see doctors than their peers who do not have dogs.

These walks are also useful because, being outside the home, dog owners often communicate with each other. Such communication is especially useful for those who live alone (of course, not counting the dog). This primarily concerns pensioners, as well as other elderly people whose children live separately and often far from their parents. This is convincingly proven, among other things, by the research of Dr. June McNicholas, a psychologist who claims that walking pets has a very beneficial effect on human health. This happens not only due to physical activity, but also because during the walk the number of social bonds established with the owners of other pets increases. The same opinion is shared by Dr. Karen Allen, an expert from the State University of New York.

Of course, there are skeptics who argue that the benefits of regular walks with a dog are that a person moves a lot, and even breathes fresh air at the same time. By itself, the dog, they say, has nothing to do with it. Even if they are right - so what? It is important that walking the dog is beneficial and healthy, not why and how it happens!

Special studies to determine the effectiveness of the psychological impact of dogs on people with disabilities led to interesting conclusions. It turned out that the disabled (namely, they make up the majority of people with disabilities) after communicating with dogs, feelings of “internal” freedom and independence appeared and strengthened. Patients began to feel more secure, they became (in the course of treatment) much more relaxed, sociable and friendly, they ceased to feel lonely and useless. Especially valuable for the psychological state of the patients was the fact that communication with a dog led them to realize their self-worth in the eyes of another living being. Sick and disabled people began to understand that someone really needed them, and this feeling helped them to actively fight their ailments.

Different breeds of dogs have their own treatment profile when interacting with people who have any movement restrictions. So, for example, shepherd dogs (German and Central Asian) teach children to walk. Miniature Pinschers "specialize" in improving coordination of movements. In case of violation of the motor activity of the hands of a small patient, a cocker spaniel helps him in the treatment, or rather, stroking the silky and wavy hair of these wonderful dogs.

However, specialization is specialization; but it is optional. The main thing is contact with any “own” dog.

For communication problems

Specialized clinics and ordinary hospitals, boarding schools and shelters, hospitals and nursing homes, hospices and nursing homes - this is an incomplete list of those institutions that actively use animal therapy methods (primarily, of course, canistherapy). And almost everywhere this branch of alternative medicine, with its skillful application, turns out to be very, very effective!

Desperate, closed in on themselves, obsessed with their misfortune or suffering from loneliness, communicating with dogs and involuntarily reacting to their friendliness, they begin to communicate more with others, talk more, take an interest in life, find something to do. This often helps them overcome excessive self-absorption and take the first step towards recovery.

In the West, many pets (primarily dogs) live with their owners in nursing homes. People who have visited such houses say that there is an atmosphere of spiritual comfort (and not only spiritual!) and tranquility everywhere. And if one of the old people cannot take care of their pet due to age or illness, then this is done by the staff of the institution, who are assisted by volunteers.

Loneliness to loneliness, you know, discord. In some cases, it is associated with objective reasons (absence of relatives, low income, old age). In others, people themselves provoke their own isolation. And in such cases, the dog can also provide a person with invaluable help! There are many cases when the dog literally returned the owner to the world, to a full life, communication.

For anxiety and fear

Australian psychologist Linda Martson (Department of Psychology, Monash University) believes that dogs (along with old photographs) help reduce feelings of anxiety and fear and even partially restore memory in old people suffering from dementia. Special studies conducted by Dr. Martson convincingly proved that after three weeks of regular contact with dogs, sick old people increased social activity, the feeling of constant anxiety decreased, they could again maintain a meaningful conversation. According to Linda Martson, people with dementia still have a functioning memory, but doctors no longer have access to it. The use of alternative means (old photographs, music, etc.) often helps the memory to work again. As for communication with a dog, it stimulates the sense of touch in patients, helps a person to concentrate on reality, and has a calming effect. On top of that, such a program to help sick old people does not need government funding, since volunteers from charitable organizations provide assistance. These noble people, along with their dogs, simply come to nursing homes and specialized clinics when necessary.

For nervous and mental disorders

Sherri Bernard Curran, executive director of the Texas Animal Therapeutic Society, and her staff say that dogs are of great benefit to patients with physical and psychiatric illnesses.

In one of the psychiatric clinics in the United States, 112 patients were offered to take dogs as healers. 90 patients agreed. After a short time, 80 of them showed a serious and persistent improvement in well-being.

Ferry and Corson, a New York City-based researcher, show that positive changes in the social behavior of patients with neuropsychiatric disorders occur after the start of the activity of animal healers. According to them, in such patients, the feeling of social isolation and loneliness decreases, the number of positive contacts between the staff of the clinics and these patients increases.

And here is our data. Specialists working in the famous Moscow clinic. 3. P. Solovyov, testify: dogs effectively helped more than 30% of patients treated for various neuropsychiatric disorders: neurasthenia, hysteria, psychoasthenia, obsessive-compulsive disorder and sensory-obotic neurosis.

In America, as in Europe, most of the animals used to treat neuropsychiatric disorders are dogs. Their assistance to old people and children is especially effective. The presence of a dog effectively lowers nervous tension, significantly moderates various phobias, quickly and reliably removes the patient from a depressive state.

Children with congenital cerebral palsy

The famous Austrian scientist, world-famous zoologist, founder of the science of ethology (the study of animal behavior), Nobel Prize winner Konrad Lorenz argued that dogs make a certain contribution to establishing contact between the child and the outside world.

But how does it work in practice? Very simply, in the process of communicating with a dog, the child not only freely communicates with her. He also takes care of his four-legged friend and doctor - feeds the dog, combs its hair, walks it. And these are not just elements of communication - combing wool, for example, contributes to the development of normal motor functions. Attempts to train a dog develop communication skills, and above all the speech of a small patient. And not only speech - the child's motor skills laid down from birth are restored. It is known, for example, that children suffering from cerebral palsy have difficulty performing even the simplest movements. It is painful and scary for them to move, move their arms and legs, walk and even talk. Nevertheless, there are cases when children with cerebral palsy overcame pain, got up from a wheelchair, tried to walk and talk. This happened when they needed to play with the dog in the same room! Often communication with a dog is the last resort that can help little patients when all other means and methods are powerless in front of the disease. This is proven by practice.

On the dogs themselves, communication with children has an ambiguous effect. Happy to help their little patients, the dogs themselves, as a rule, have a hard time enduring canistherapy sessions. They get tired quickly and may even refuse to work. In many medical institutions, a rule has been introduced: a dog should only deal with two babies a day, and nothing more!

AT medical practice there is a case when a child suffering from cerebral palsy got up from a wheelchair and, overcoming fear and pain, began ... to walk the dog presented to him! Psychologists and doctors say that when in contact with a dog, the mental status of a child with cerebral palsy changes dramatically for the better. And this statement is true not only for patients with cerebral palsy, but also for those who suffer from a variety of neuropsychiatric disorders.

Non-contact children

Dog therapy has a special effect when working with any children with little contact, and especially those suffering from a disease such as autism. Sick children are less immersed in themselves, their condition and behavior improve markedly, which has the most beneficial effect on the effectiveness of the therapy.

In fact, all modern animal therapy owes its birth to the observation of the New York child psychiatrist Boris Levinson, who, back in 1969, noticed the amazing peculiarity of autistic children to make friends with a dog! And not just to tie up, but also to be friends, and not just to be friends, but gradually recover, return to a normal human worldview. Boris Levinson noticed that his little patients literally came to life if the doctor's beloved dog was nearby. It turned out that it is enough to conduct a course of animal therapy lasting six months for sick children to experience a significant increase in self-esteem, improvement in mental well-being, development of internal self-control and craving for greater sociability with other children. After years of observing the amazing abilities of pet therapy (as Levinson first called animal therapy), the psychiatrist came to the conclusion that the experience of communicating with and caring for an animal contributes to a significant increase in self-control, tolerance and self-control in young patients. The child became much more receptive to the moods and feelings of other people, learned to understand them, and not get hung up on himself.

Formation of the nervous and mental systems of the child

According to a special survey conducted by researchers from the University of Warwick (UK), pets are the most important partners for children. In a survey of children aged 7-8 years, it was found that 90% of them put pets (mainly dogs and cats) in the top ten priorities of their lives. Some children find that pets are closer to them than school teachers or relatives! Moreover, it was the dog that most of the children surveyed called their favorite interlocutor, who can keep a secret or comfort in grief.

Many psychologists also believe that certain age stages can be traced in relation to a child to a dog. So, at the age of up to 3 years, the dog seems to be a bigger and more pleasant toy for the baby, from 3 to 8-9 years old, children already consciously communicate with the dog, from 9 years old until the onset of adolescence, communication with the dog develops positive family feelings in children. In the most difficult (including for those around) adolescence, the dog often becomes the only effective educator, stabilizes the usual outbursts of emotions for this age, strengthens the psyche - in a word, it has an exceptionally beneficial effect on the teenager!

Specialists from the German Child Welfare Foundation note that the relationship between a dog and a child is of great pedagogical importance. In the company of a dog, the child becomes much more organized, he acquires communication skills more easily and quickly, learns to respect the opinions of others. The Fund's specialists also state that a child's desire to have his own dog is a sign of his harmonious development, and such a desire should not be prevented. Communication with a dog develops responsibility and sociability in a child, prepares a small person for a difficult life in the adult world, gives a sense of security.

Based on the results of studies by Western European scientists mentioned above, French psychologist A. Condore strongly advises ... to keep dogs in schools. According to the scientist, the presence of a dog will help a shy child to communicate with other children, and children suffering from neuropsychiatric diseases, in the process of communicating with dogs, will be able to make up for the lack of communication links.

But in the Czech Republic they have already begun to introduce the practice of keeping dogs in children's institutions. So, in the city of Třebíč, dogs of the Labrador breed once a week are present at school classes together with students of primary and secondary grades. The school psychologist supervises the dogs. A month after the start of joint classes, the children began to study better and skip classes less. Schoolchildren noticeably increased concentration, they became calmer and friendlier. Aggressive children have improved behavior.

The opinion of the French psychologist is shared by many of his colleagues in different countries peace.

Thus, the well-known American researcher of the psychological aspects of the relationship between people and animals, Professor Brenda K. Bryant, argues that dogs have a powerful social impact on children. Many modern psychotherapists believe that a child who avoids contact with other children or adults can perfectly contact a dog. And even in a mentally unhealthy, self-centered child, an animal can arouse interest in something else, and not just in itself.

It's all about the emotionality of the dog!

Many psychotherapists believe that dogs are much more active than other animals in expressing their emotions (indeed, some puppies, if picked up and petted, squeal with joy and even piss with delight!). These properties of dogs are sociability and spontaneity, friendliness and devotion, gratitude and complete absence selfish interests - are the reason for significant success in their use in animal therapy. Sick people, especially those who are closed and deep in themselves, begin to reach out to good-natured and cheerful dogs, especially since dogs are ready to tirelessly communicate with their wards.

Communication with a dog increases the vitality and psychological mood of almost any person, significantly improves his well-being, strengthens nervous system. Some neurologists, psychiatrists and psychoanalysts strongly recommend that their patients get a dog! It is especially useful to have a dog at home for people with an unstable, and even traumatized psyche. Devotion and disinterestedness of dogs, their reckless love for the owner sometimes do wonders where medicine has been powerless.

The dog gives the person its positive energy

Dogs differ from cats primarily in that they are naturally extroverted (outward-facing), while cats, on the contrary, are introverts (inward-facing). Accordingly, canistherapy and felinotherapy differ from each other in the attitude shown by cats and dogs to the people they treat. Cats are treated because it is useful and pleasant for them, as many psychologists and animal therapists believe. A cat “takes”, so to speak, negative bioenergy from a sick person, but a dog cannot do this. For a dog, negative bioenergy is just as harmful as it is for a person. Various examples can be cited to support these words. So, everyone knows how hard and negatively dogs perceive the quarrels of their owners - listening to the skirmish of the people they love, they can even get sick, get a nervous breakdown, and in the worst cases - even a heart attack!

So, a dog, unlike a cat, which draws negative energy from a person and thereby contributes to his recovery, on the contrary, gives energy, and this energy is positive. There is a widespread opinion among many bioenergetics that dogs are "recharged" by the energy of the cosmos directly, and not indirectly, as other living beings do. One can agree or disagree with this point of view, but really - are there more cheerful and active animals than dogs? Their restlessness, innocence and unsophisticated zeal are in full view - well, who else can chase their own tail for hours? And the endless cheerful fuss of dogs with each other or with the master's children - what animal (except kittens) can boast of such a property of temperament? Maybe dogs really have inexhaustible energy?

And even during sleep, if the dog just sleeps, tightly clinging to the person, it feeds him with positive bioenergy, increases the vitality of the person, and restores strength. A simple example of this is taiga hunters and their faithful huskies. Exhausted by the day, the hunters make a fire in the evening and fall asleep nearby - and the dogs lie down next to them. In the morning, the hunter gets up perfectly rested, well-sleep, full of energy - as if the day before he had not wound many kilometers in the taiga in search of the beast ... Do you know what is the most amazing thing? The dog, acting as a gratuitous donor of its energy, does not suffer in any way in terms of energy, giving it away. Not that it was a surplus - no! The dog draws more and more energy from the world around, it is not afraid to give it away, because its energy reserves are constantly replenished. It can be said that the dog is spontaneously generous, but this generosity has its own motive: the dog is the minion of fate, because it always has an abundance of what others collect and keep crumbs. That is why the dog recklessly shares its energy with us, it is sure that no less will come to it from the outside than it will give. And the huskies, who have been feeding people with their own energy all night, get up cheerful and happy in the morning, ready for new many hours of transitions, full of strength and enthusiasm for life! (And remember the numerous current discussions about energy vampires who "suck" bioenergy from their victims. How does a person who acted as an "energy donor" feel? That's right, like a squeezed lemon. And the dog is cheerful, cheerful and still ready to give so much energy, how much they ask her, how much they take! Feel the difference! The dog gives us a significant head start in terms of bioenergy!)

Here is another historical example. The ancient Vikings, it turns out, were well aware of the unique property of dogs to transmit powerful energy charges to people. Before the battle, the Vikings went to bed in an embrace with their mighty fighting dogs. The next morning, the Vikings had no equal in the fight - they could fight without a break for many hours. Not a single enemy could withstand such tension - and the formidable northerners won victories again and again ...

Dogs have another undeniable advantage over other animals - they are relatively easy to train and specialize in. Of course, such training should be carried out by experienced, qualified instructors, because their wards will treat people, so the selection among dogs - future companions and helpers of a person is always quite strict. As a rule, training and education of dogs intended for the treatment of people is financed by charitable foundations and societies. In a number of Western countries (as, for example, in some Scandinavian countries), financial and organizational assistance in this noble cause is provided by the state through special institutions authorized by the government of a given country.

Dog saliva - a panacea for wounds, burns, fungal infections, inflammation

Dogs are especially good at treating various diseases skin, as well as wounds, scratches, abrasions and injuries. Dog saliva contains lysozyme, a powerful antimicrobial agent. People have long known that licking wounds contributes to their speedy healing (I have already mentioned this in passing, now I repeat myself).

In our time, you can hear that dog saliva does not have any healing ability at all. Some researchers even believe that the licking of human wounds and wounds by a dog is extremely harmful, since (in their opinion) the data on the lysozyme activity of dog saliva are greatly exaggerated. And therefore, harmful microorganisms and particles of dirt can get into the wound with dog saliva, which is unacceptable. What can be said here? According to the author of these lines, healthy dog ​​saliva lysozyme still has a powerful antimicrobial effect, therefore, dog saliva is useful. In any case, this is confirmed by the centuries-old practice of traditional healers. As well as my own experience and the experience of my many acquaintances and owners of my four-legged patients.

So, what troubles does dog licking help with?

If you have a fresh or festering wound, let your dog lick it. At some point, it may seem that her tongue is like a grater. It is she who persistently cleanses the wound. One, two, three such licking sessions - and things will get better!

There is such an old method of treating curvature of the spine in children. The child is placed on the floor upside down, and sour cream is smeared around the spine. Then they invite the dog. And she begins to lick the sour cream while massaging the child with her wonderful healing saliva. Scoliosis of the first and second degree is thus cured within one and a half to two months!

Dog saliva helps with fungal infections! Even if the fungus is on the toenail, the dog can help here too. Let her lick her sore leg every night. Naturally, it would be nice to steam your finger with soda or salt before that, cut off the “bad” nail under the base, then you can smear this place with oil. And the dog will selflessly lick it. In a month it can lick all the ailment!

With rheumatism, gout, diseases of the liver and gallbladder, respiratory tract

We firmly press the plantar part of the foot along with the toes to the dog. This exercise is performed for rheumatism and gout, diseases of the liver and gallbladder, as well as for diseases of the respiratory tract (primarily with colds). Such wide range diseases, the healing of which this exercise contributes to, is due to the fact that nerve endings associated with a number of internal organs. Impact on these nerve endings stimulates the work of these organs, activates metabolic processes and accelerates recovery.

For foot injuries, circulation disorders, edema

Tightly press the lower part of the shin to the dog and upper part feet ("lift") front and back ("Achilles tendon"),

It is no longer necessary to lie down next to the dog. Both of these exercises are performed with various injuries of the lower leg and foot. It is especially useful to perform these exercises for patients with a diagnosis of Achilles tendon injury.

Another exercise is to firmly press the entire upper part of the foot along with the toes to the dog. This exercise is recommended for various foot injuries, as well as for violations of microvascular blood circulation.

With injuries of the hips and legs, inflammation of the joints, varicose veins, thrombophlebitis

Tightly press the middle part of the thighs to the dog in front and behind. This exercise helps well with various injuries of the middle part of the thigh (bruises, fractures, etc.), as well as with varicose veins and thrombophlebitis.

Another exercise is to firmly press the lower part of the thighs and the knee area to the dog in front and behind. This procedure is indicated for injuries of this part of the body, thrombophlebitis, varicose veins, as well as inflammatory diseases of the knee joints.

Tightly press the upper part of the lower leg to the dog in front and behind. Both of the last exercises are performed both for leg injuries in this area and for varicose veins. This procedure has a special effect in the case when diseases of the venous vessels are just beginning to develop (when the "network" of venous vessels is just beginning to be seen under the skin).

As I said, for varicose veins, massage of problem areas with a dog's tongue is highly indicated. In my practice, there were cases when dogs, by licking, slowed down the development of the disease and turned it back!

With sciatica, lumbago, kidney disease

Tightly press the lower back to the dog. This exercise is useful to perform with sciatica, lumbago and other diseases of the spinal nerves, as well as with kidney diseases, nephritis, nephrosis, etc.

The next exercise is to firmly press the lower abdomen to the dog. This exercise is indicated for diseases of the intestines (especially its thick section) and the bladder (including urolithiasis and enuresis). In women, the therapeutic effect of this exercise is manifested in diseases of the internal genital organs. It is especially useful to perform a similar procedure for diseases of the genitals of inflammatory origin: adnexitis, colpitis, metritis, vaginitis, etc.

For colds and disorders of the organs of vision, barley and conjunctivitis

Tightly press the front of the head to the dog. This exercise is performed for colds - rhinitis, sinusitis, sinusitis, frontal sinusitis, ethmosphenoiditis and pansinusitis, as well as for headaches resulting from these diseases. In addition, this procedure is indicated for disorders and diseases of the organs of vision (including the disease, colloquially referred to as "barley"). This exercise should be performed with caution, because when breathing into the nasal and oral cavity hairs and small particles of dirt from the dog's skin can get in. Patients suffering from allergies, and even more so idiosyncrasy (intolerance) to dog hair, need to be especially careful!

By the way, if you have barley (pisyak) or conjunctivitis, then it is useful to let the dog lick your sore eyes. Dogs are surprisingly effective in licking all sorts of inflammation, after two or three sessions of such therapy, as a rule, everything is on the mend.

With right-sided pain in the ears, toothache, inflammation trigeminal nerve

Tightly press the right side of the head to the dog. This exercise is indicated for headaches, localized mainly on the right side of the head, as well as ear pain (in case of acute inflammatory disease right ear). In addition, this procedure is effective for right-sided trigeminalgia (inflammation of the trigeminal nerve, accompanied by pain), as well as for acute toothache - if the diseased tooth (teeth) is located on the right side of the lower or upper jaw.

With headaches, osteochondrosis of the cervical vertebrae, hypertension

We firmly press the back of the head to a calmly lying dog (in the further description of the exercises - just to the dog). To perform this procedure, the patient will have to lie down or get on all fours himself - as it is more convenient for you. Of course, if the dog is small, then it is advisable to simply apply it to a sore spot (like a cat during a feline therapy session).

This procedure is indicated for headaches, localized mainly in the back of the head, as well as osteochondrosis of the cervical vertebrae and arterial hypertension. The high efficiency of such an exercise is manifested in neuropsychiatric disorders and diseases, including such common ones as neuroses and insomnia.

Tightly press the frontal and temporal parts of the head to the dog. This procedure is indicated for headaches localized in the corresponding parts of the head, and, as in the previous exercise, for arterial hypertension, osteochondrosis of the cervical vertebrae and various neuropsychiatric disorders.

A dog is a living and natural energy battery, a true donor of the most positive energy. To get rid of a large number of different diseases and replenish the supply of vitality, The best way is to get a dog.

When you are tired coming back from work, your pet throws itself on your chest and gives you a huge charge of vivacity.

"Dog therapy" is applied very simply: it is quite enough to be near your pet, stroke it, talk, walk with it.

What diseases can dogs treat?

Absolutely all dogs, of course, will bring relief from angina pectoris, ischemia, heart attack, arrhythmia, kidney disease, bronchitis, influenza, radiation sickness, various tumors, and neurodermatitis.

A large breed of dogs (St. Bernard, Newfoundland, Moscow Watchdog, Great Dane, East European and South Russian Shepherd Dogs) will have a beneficial effect on hemorrhoids, frequent sore throats, jaundice, arthritis, colitis. If you have heart failure, put your hands on your dog's heart area for at least half an hour every day for a month. Scientists have proven that in a large dog, the alpha rhythm of its heart muscle has a high activity, absolutely no pacemaker can compare with it.

For obesity or physical inactivity, you should choose an energetic dog: it can be. But we must not forget that for people suffering from heart disease, the mobile breed is contraindicated.

Sharpei is suitable for irritable and nervous. This dog is considered therapeutic, it is the owner of a special biofield. Sharpei will cure insomnia, relieve headache, will have a beneficial effect on phobias, epilepsy.

Pain with rheumatism, sciatica, gout, renal colic a naked Mexican or Chinese dog will perfectly take pictures. Her body temperature reaches 42 degrees, while she has unique healing and psychic abilities.

Often pet your pet on the head, such communication will help relieve spasms of the vessels of the brain and heart. A few minutes of exciting communication will replace one tablet of no-shpy.

Osteochondrosis or sciatica your dog will warm up better than any heating pad and help relieve pain.

: they breathe fresh air, move more, which is very useful for overweight, rheumatism, stress and atherosclerosis.

The dog will give you the first emergency care for burns, wounds, scratches. The saliva of this animal contains a strong antibiotic lysozyme, which has bactericidal and wound healing properties.

Combing and putting your pet in order, you do not need to throw away the wool. Collect it in a linen bag - and you will receive excellent tool from sciatica and inflammation in the joints. As soon as you feel unwell, warm the bag with an iron and immediately apply it to the sore spot. But it should be noted that it is impossible to forcibly keep a "live battery" next to you, otherwise your four-legged healer may "catch" his master's disease.

Almost all dog owners are aware of the unique abilities of their pets! After all, they can not only heal the human body, but also the soul ...

Everything comes spontaneously, and the initiative comes from the four-legged healer, who is sensitive to the fact that something is wrong with the owner. However, canine animal therapy (treatment with the help of animals) can be done purposefully. You only need to know how to properly carry out such procedures.

Dogs heal at a distance, treat with the touch of their body - this is their difference. The impact of dogs can be compared with the treatment of a bioenergy therapist, who first cleanses the diseased organ from negative energy, which causes malnutrition of this organ. The dog intuitively does the same, taking on the negative energy. And if you need a veterinarian at home, then follow the link, report a problem and they will help you! Your pet will be healthy again! A person's condition improves, pain disappears, vitality rises, even hemoglobin returns to normal! In the morning you walk with the dog, and after the walk, go to her “at the reception”…

Sit your friend in front of you and look into his eyes for about two minutes. At the same time, your negative energy is dumped, and you are fed by the positive coming from the dog. Usually she feels when the energy exchange ends and turns away, but if the dog does not look away, then there is still a lot of negative energy in you ... In order to finally get rid of it, you need dry off with a towel dipped in cold salted water. A tablespoon of sea salt should be diluted in a liter of water, it’s not bad to do a foot bath by lowering your feet for 5 minutes in a bowl of cold water. Then repeat the procedure with the dog again. If you get tired often and quickly, you just need to carry out a more thorough energy cleansing of the body. What do you need to do for this? Seat your friend to your left, and pick up a rubber ball yourself. Concentrate and mentally “drive” all your fatigue and illnesses into this ball, and at the same time imagine how THIS everything gets inside the ball, then mentally cross yourself three times and say: “Save, Lord.”

Then throw the ball away from you, and without releasing the dog, throw your illnesses into the rolled ball for some more time. Command "Aport"! And when the dog grabs the ball, mentally imagine how all the negative energy through the dog goes into space ... After a while, call the dog to you, praise, stroke your “working” hand. The contact should last 5-7 minutes with the dog and if you do it regularly, your health will improve significantly and your aura will be cleansed.

At the end of the day, it also does not hurt to visit your dear healer. During an evening walk, play with your friend for as long as possible, and when you return home, rub your palms together with force and breathe on them to achieve the greatest blood flow to your hands. Sit the dog in front of you at a distance of a meter and stretch your arms open palms to your "doctor". Concentrate on your lower back and imagine how an energy flow flows from there into the palm of your hand, radiating to the dog. Relax after 5 minutes. The procedure will help get rid of the negativity accumulated during the day, increase vitality and give a good mental recharge. Dog hair also has healing effect. Corset belts, socks are knitted from it, you can simply wrap the wool in a linen cloth and fix it on a sore spot with neuralgia, sciatica. Keep the day and the pain usually goes away. If not, then, changing the coat, repeat the procedure

Canistherapy-a method of treatment and rehabilitation involving specially selected and trained dogs and is a variety that is actively used in medical and social rehabilitation. Such therapy helps to recover faster, and also copes well with mental disorders.

Most often, dogs and are involved in pet therapy. Nonetheless, fish, guinea pigs, horses and other animals that meet the selection criteria may also be involved. and individual treatment plan.

What is canistherapy based on?

Such treatment is based on the connection between man and animals, which has existed for many centuries. Interaction with a friendly pet helps manage physical and psychological issues, lowers blood pressure, and improves overall cardiovascular health. During canistherapy, a large amount of endorphins are released, which have a calming effect, which leads to relieve pain, reduce stress and improve overall psychological well-being.

Canistherapy can be used to improve a range of conditions. An important part of therapy is setting a goal, as well as tracking progress, which is necessary for structuring a therapy session.

Canistherapy can be carried out to achieve the following goals:

• Improved motor skills
• Improving motor ability
• Increase self-esteem
• Improve verbal communication
• Development of social skills
• Development of readiness to participate in events
• Improve interaction with people and animals

Other benefits of canistherapy:

• Makes a person happier, relieving depression and forcing a positive look at the world
• Relieves feelings of loneliness and isolation
• Relieves boredom or boredom
• Relieves feelings of anxiety
• Helps children learn empathy and parenting skills

Who will benefit from this therapy?

Canistherapy can be helpful

• With chemotherapy
• Patients who stay in the hospital for a long time
• People with chronic heart failure
• Veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder
• Children with physical or psychological problems
• Stroke victims and people undergoing procedures to restore motor skills
• People with mental disorders

The presence of a pet during an unpleasant or painful medical procedure can help manage anxiety. And people undergoing rehabilitation recover faster if they undergo canistherapy in parallel.

• Emotional and behavioral disorders
• Depression
• Anxiety
• Alcoholism and drug addiction
• attachment disorder
• Psychological trauma, grief or loss
• Alzheimer's disease
• Autism
• Dementia

What are the risks of canistherapy?

The main risks of canistherapy are associated with safety and health standards. People who are allergic to animals may experience an allergic reaction during interaction with a dog.

Animals that participate in canistherapy programs are tested for behavior and health. The owner of the animal or the person doing the practice must train the dog. After all, animals can also suffer from injury or mistreatment.

In some cases, people become so attached to animals that they do not want to leave after the session or express a desire to become the owner of a dog. Failure, in such cases, can lead to lower self-esteem and depression.

How does canistherapy work?

It is best to carry out canistherapy in the presence of the patient's attending physician. Canistherapist, who is often the pet owner, brings the animal to every appointment and conducts sessions under the direction of your doctor. In most cases, canistherapists are volunteers. To ensure the safety of both the person receiving treatment and the pet, It is necessary to discuss the rules for handling a dog.

The first step in canistherapy is choosing the right breed. For example, for children with deviant behavior, psychological deviations or having limited abilities, northern sled dogs are often used - Malamutes, Huskies, Samoyeds, Chinooks, Chukchi and Taimyr sled dogs.

Before the dog and canistherapist can participate in therapy, a a number of procedures which usually includes:

• Physical examination of the animal, checking for necessary vaccinations
• Obedience training to ensure proper control
• Training course to train the canistherapist in interaction with patients
• Assessment of the nature and behavior of the animal
• Sponsor certification

Canistherapy in Ukraine

In Ukraine, canistherapy is only developing. Mostly enthusiastic cynologists are engaged in it. However, there are several centers where such therapy is still practiced.

Center for Psychology "Me + Family", which is located in the city of Kyiv at the address. Heroes of Stalingrad, 48-A, was one of the first to start using canistherapy. In this center, cynologists and therapists work together to develop sets of exercises for children with different needs.

Kyiv cynological center "Larmon" has been practicing canister therapy for more than six years, provides an opportunity for children to work with their specialists. Sessions are held in Kyiv and the region.

Special attention deserves a non-profit Canadian-Ukrainian program called "Hero's Friend", during which specially trained therapy dogs visit hospitals (both military and civilian) and rehabilitation centers in the Kyiv and Zhytomyr regions for therapy sessions with veterans of the Armed Forces of Ukraine and Ukrainian voluntary battalions, as well as children injured during hostilities.